Marine marker



Apri123, 1968 H. V. JOHNSON MARINE MARKER Filed Jan. 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 ANCHOR F/G'.Z..

INVE R HE/VRY V. JOH/IV IV Mm RNEY April 23, 1968 H. v. JOHNSON 3,373,363v

MARINE MARKER Filed Jan. 16, 1967 2 Sheet$-Sheet z:

WATER CURRE DIRECTION TO ANCHOR WATER CURRENT TO ANCHOR 5 I .J 3 Z is 55 In E i g INVENT n D 2 g) I HENRY v. JOHNSON & BY

ORNEY United States Patent 3,378,863 MARINE MARKER Henry V. Johnson, Panama City, Fla., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Jan. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 609,691 9 Claims. (Cl. 9-8) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spar type marker buoy having a straight flag mast, a curved float, and a curved, weighted counterbalance shaft, which effects an overall geometrical structural configuration that hydroplanes during high water current conditions, thereby preventing submergence of the flag in the water.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates generally to marine markers, and, in particular, it is an anchored marine surface marker which remains sufliciently upright to be visible above the water during all water current conditions.

For many practical purposes, the prior art marine markers and buoys function in a satisfactory manner. However, during conditions of considerable water currents that may be found in rivers, bays, lakes, and oceans due to tidal variations, wave actions, swells, storms, or the like, the prior art anchored markers sometimes leave a great deal to be desired. This is true because, during the times of excessive water currents, said anchored markers become completely submerged within the water and, hence, cannot be seen. Moreover, in order to prevent or reduce such marker submergence in the past, long mooring lines were employed which, of course, resulted in larger than desired watch circles. This, in turn, reduced considerably the accuracy and effectiveness of the marker, in that it may not actually float substantially over or even near the object or location being marked.

The subject invention overcomes most of the disadvantages of the prior art marine surface markers, in that it is a relatively tautly moored marker, the appropriate portions of which remain sufficiently above the water surface to be visible for practically all marine conditions.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved anchored marine surface marker.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anchored water surface marker or spar buoy that remains sufficiently above the water surface to be visible for all water conditions, including those containing large, abnormally high currents.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a spar buoy that may be tautly moored by a relatively short anchor line.

A further object of this invention is to provide a surface marine marker that may be more precisely positioned and, thus, is an improved navigation reference.

A further object of this invention is to provide a predetermined platform above the water, regardless of the sea state or water current conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anchorable spar buoy that will not sink below the water surface during large water currents, swells, wave actions, tidal variations, and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a marine marker of improved reliability that is easily and economically manufactured, used, and maintained.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages "ice will be readily appreciated as the subject invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the subject invention partially illustrated in cross-section, partially depicted pictorially, and partially shown with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a quasi-pictorial view of the invention disclosing the preferred geometrical configuration thereof;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the invention as it appears when anchored and floating in water having substantially no current;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the invention as it might appear when anchored and floating in water having currents substantially of the order of one to three knots; and

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the invention as it might appear when anchored and floating in water having currents substantially of the order of four to ten knots or perhaps even higher.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown preferred embodiments of the subject invention as incorporating a tubular shaft 11 of any suitable material, such as, for example, aluminum, fiberglass, plastic, wood, or the like, which extends substantially the entire length of the marker and acts as the backbone therefor. Said tubular shaft 11 has external threads 12 and 13 located at the opposite ends thereof. On the top end thereof, a nylon end cap 14 is mounted by means of internal threads 15 that are complementary with the aforementioned mast threads 12. Said end cap 14 contains a peripheral groove 16, and the upper clamping ring portion 17 of a flag stiffener 18 is held therein in essentially lock-ring fashion. Flag stiffener 18 likewise extends outwardly and downwardly in parallel with shaft 11 and then is loosely clamped by a substantially circular ring clamping portion 19 extending around it at some lower location. A flag or pennant 21 of any suitable material and color, say of international orange plasti-cloth, is suitably mounted on stiffener 18, as by means of sewing or any other desired manner.

Mounted on shaft 11 is a suitable painted polyethylene foam float 22. Float 22 is preferably of the tubular type with a hole 23 extending therethrough along the entire longitudinal axis thereof, and, of course, the aforesaid shaft 11 of complementary outside diameter is inserted therethrough in such manner that it extends a predetermined distance from the lower end thereof.

Float 22 may be secured to shaft 11 by any suitable means; however, it has been found that All Purpose Barge Cement 24, manufactured by the Barge Cement Manufacturing Company of Towaco, New Jersey, is quite satisfactory.

At the lower end of shaft 11, an insulating sleeve 25 of plastic, rubber, or the like, is mounted. For simplicity of construction, assembly, and maintenance purposes, sleeve 25 may have a loose fit or a snug fit with shaft 11. Of course, it may also be securely mounted thereon if necessitated by operational circumstances. And disposed on and around said sleeve 25 is a lead counterweight 26 of predetermined weight, which, likewise, is either loosely or securely mounted, as desired. It should at this time perhaps be noteworthy that lead counterweight 26, insulator sleeve 25, and metallic shaft 11 are to be so assembled that no galvanic action can occur between counterweight 26 and shaft 11. So doing may require the making of the proper design selections of the respective dimensions therefor. The making of said selections, of course, would be well within the purview of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herewith presented.

At the lower end of shaft 11, is mounted another nylon end cap 27, as by means of internal threads 28, which are screwed on to the aforesaid external shaft threads 13. In order to facilitate production and assembly, bottom cap 27 is preferably indentical to top end cap 14, but it need not be identical thereto. Bottom end cap 27 serves as a retainer for preventing sleeve 25 and counterweight 26 from sliding off the lower end of shaft 11, in the event they are loosely mounted thereon and gravity is employed as the positioning means therefor.

Size and dimensions of inventions are rarely of patentable significance, but in this particular instance, regardless of the size, the relative dimensions are of some importance. Hence, dimensions A, B, and C, the lengths along shaft 11 before it is bent, have been indicated on FIG. 1, and they may be calculated approximately for most practical purposes as follows:

A+B+C .375 (2) As far as a preferred embodiment is concerned, the following longitudinal dimensions have been found to work satisfactorily: A 30 inches, 3:36 inches, and C=30 inches. Although the shaft and float diameters are not critical, a one-half inch outside diameter is satisfactory for the former and a three inch outside diameter is satisfactory for the latter. The weight of counterweight should preferably be of the order of one and three-quarter pounds, if the above mentioned specific dimensions are used; otherwise, it should be proportional to the sum thereof, if different overall shaft lengths are used. Being a matter of design choice, the selection thereof could readily be made by the artisan without violating the scope of this invention.

Although FIG. 1 shows the component details in some particularity FIG. 2 also depicts the preferred geometrical configuration of the subject invention. Within reasonable design limits, this deometrical configuration or overall shape is of considerable importance and, in fact, may be of paramount importance, as far as the operational characteristics obtained from the invention are concerned.

In the presently discussed preferred embodiment, the top of float 22 should preferably be located 30 inches from the top end of shaft ll, and then the shaft and float assembly should be bent around a inch radius (E), measured to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, for such distances as to make one end of the longitudinal axis of float 22 make an angle (a) of 70 with the other end thereof. This leaves a straight section (F) of float at the bottom end thereof approximately 11.2 inches long. Beginning at the lower end of float 22, shaft 11 should be bent around a 7 inch radius (G) until the lower straight portion thereof makes a 30 angle (p) with an imaginary extension of the longitudinal axis of the lower straight portion of float 22.

In order to make the invention operate properly, all of the aforementioned bends must be made in the same plane and radius E must be in the opposite direction from radius G.

A bridle 31, composed of a mooring line 32 tied or otherwise attached to float 22 at a point 33 about 15 inches (H) from the top end thereof, and an elastic rubher band or spring 34, one end of which is tied to shaft 11, with a plastic ring 35 tied to the other end thereof through which the aforementioned mooring line is threaded. With respect to the point or location where mooring line 32 is attached to float 22, it should be understood that the actual departure point of line 32 from the float should be located at the outer periphery of the bend or the largest radius thereof, Because band 34 is elastic, the

effective tie point of the entire bridle 31 is variable, depending on operational requirement, and is always located at ring 35.

The bottom end of mooring line 32 is connected as by tieing or the like to any suitable anchor 36, ordinarily disposed on the sea floor. Although, as previously mentioned, any suitable anchor may be used, it has been found that an ordinary concrete building block and tie wire performs this function in a very satisfactory manner, and does it economically, too.

As previously suggested, visibility of the subject marker is of paramount importance, when it is used as primarily intendedthat is, to mark an object or location on the surface of a vast body of water. l-lencc, not only a flag 21 preferably of some highly visible color, but float 22 may also be appropriately colored to enhance its visibility. Accordingly, alternate white and international orange stripes 37 and 38 are usually painted around the outside diametrical sections of float 22. Of course, the colors employed for the flag and/or float may be varied as warranted by operational circumstances.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 portray the invention as it may be used under various water current conditions. Accordingly, each of said figures contains reference numerals which are identical to those used in FIGS. 1 and 2 for like elements. However, as may be seen, some thereof have been omitted therefrom, because they are ostensively unnecessary to the understanding of the devices disclosed therein.

The operation of the invention will now be discussed briefly in conjunction with all of the drawing figures.

The subject marker and its anchor may be dropped overboard from, for example, a ship, or any other appropriate vehicle. It may be used to an advantage for marking objects or locations in rivers, lakes, seas, or oceans.

If there is no water current, the marker will assume essentially the position shown in FIG. 3. Because one of the desirable features of this invention is that it has a relatively small watch circle, mooring line 32 can be kept as short as possible and still have the marker float properly on the water surface. For most practical purposes, the mooring line can be of a length that is only ten percent longer than the water depth at the location where the marker is disposed. Hence, during ordinary operation, said mooring line 32 will be taut and, thus, be more nearly vertically disposed most of the time and this, in turn, effects improved marker accuracy.

In the event there is a small water current, say of the order of one to three knots, the marker will float in a position substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 4. In such cases, the marker tends to float downstream, and as the current increases, it causes an increased drag on the submerged portion of the marker, thereby causing it to tilt toward the water surface. This, in turn, shifts the tie point of the bridle relative to the float and allows the float to acquire a more horizontal position, with a larger part of the curved portion thereof submerged in the water. This, in turn, allows the float body to act as a hydroplane and prevents the upper end portion thereof from completely submerging.

The same thing occurs to an even greater degree in greater water currents, and this situation is depicted in FIG. 5. The highest water currents normally encountered do not cause the entire marker to sink below the water surface, although that portion thereof from the top of the float on down may be essentially under water at that time.

Regardless of the water currents, it may be readily seen from FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 that the uppermost part of shaft 11 and flag 21 are above the surface of the water at all times. Therefore, to an observer searching for the marker, the flag thereof is visible, at least considerably more so than the conventional marker buoy.

Incidentally, a flag of hi hly visible color is used as the element of attraction in this particular preferred embodiment; however, it should be understood that any other suitable item may be substituted therefor without violating the scope of this invention. For example, the top of shaft .11 may be used as a means for mounting a platform upon which any of many suitable communication devices, such as radio, radar, television, or the like, may be mounted, where such devices are preferably left untended but are required to be physically maintained above the surface of the water at all times to function. properly. Of course, any other instruments, such as oceanographic or meteorological instruments could likewise be mounted as appropriate on the uppermost end of shaft 11 and left untended for long periods of time. Therefore, as may readily be seen, the subject invention has numerous actual or incidental applications and uses a considerable value.

It should also be understood that the geometrical configuration disclosed by the preferred embodiment of the invention may be varied as necessary to optimize it for any predetermined operational circumstances. Thus, within design limits, the materials, shapes, angles, and dimensions may be varied in such manner as will enhance the visibility, usefulness, and reliability thereof.

Obviously, other embodiments and modifications of the subject invention will readily come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the drawings. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited thereto and that said modifications and em- 'bodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A marine marker buoy comprising in combination:

a shaft having a first straight section, a first curved section integrally connected to said first straight sections, a second straight section integrally connected to said first curved section, a second curved section integrally connected to said second straight section, with the curve thereof disposed in the same plane as the curve of the aforesaid first curved section and in a direction opposite the direction thereof, and a third straight section integrally connected to said second curved section;

a tubular float mounted on said shaft along the entire length of the integrally connected first curved and second straight sections thereof;

utilization apparatus means mounted on said first straight section of said shaft;

counterweight means connected to the end of the third straight section of the aforesaid shaft that is opposite the end connected to the second curved section thereof; and

a variable bridle means connected between a predeter mined location on the largest radius of the curved portion of said tubular float and the end of the second curved section of said shaft that is integrally connected to the second straight section thereof.

2,. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first straight section of said shaft has a length of substantially thirty inches;

the combined first curved and second straight sections of said shaft have a length of substantially thirty-six inches, the radius of curvature of said first curved section is substantially twenty inches to the longitudinal axis thereof, and the length of said second straight section is substantially eleven and two-tenths inches;

the combined second curved and third straight sections of said shaft have a length of substantially thirty inches, and the radius of curvature of said second curved section is substantially seven inches;

extensions of the longitudinal axes of the first and second straight sections of said shaft have a one hundred and ten degree angle therebetween; and

extensions of the longitudinal axes of the second and third straight sections of said shaft have a one hundred and fifty degree angle therebetween.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein. said utilization apparatus means is a means for indicating the presence of said marine marker buoy.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein. said utilization apparatus means is a flag having a predetermined color.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said counterweight means connected to the end of the third straight section of the aforesaid shaft that is opposite the end connected to the second curved section thereof comprises:

an insulating sleeve mounted on said shaft; and

a predetermined lead weight mounted on said insulating sleeve in such manner that no galvanic action occurs the rebetween and said shaft.

6. The invention according to claim 1 further characterized by a pair of nylon end caps mounted on the opposite extremities of said shaft, respectively.

7. The invention according to claim 1 further characterized by means connected to said variable bridle means for anchoring the aforesaid marine marker buoy within substantially a predetermined watch circle on the surface of a body of water.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said variable bridle means comprises:

a mooring line, with one end thereof connected to the largest radius of the curved portion of said tubular float at a distance substantially fifteen inches from the upper end thereof;

an elastic band connected to the second curved section of said shaft adjacent the bottom end of said float; and

a ring connected to said elastic band and surrounding the aforesaid mooring line in such manner that said mooring line may slide therethrongh.

9. The invention according to claim 8 further characterized by an anchor connected to the other end of the aforesaid mooning line.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 96,550 11/1869 Clark 244153 3,204,708 9/1965 Berne 9-8 X 3,295,489 1/1967 Bossa 9-8 X MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. MAJOR, Assistant Examiner. 

